People

Aiden is a civil engineer with over ten years of experience in high-end residential developments, three waters infrastructure and land development projects.

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He brings strong design capability and a detail-oriented approach to stormwater, wastewater and water supply solutions.

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Originally from China and fluent in Mandarin, Aiden is now based in Auckland and contributes to a wide range of projects across the region with precision and consistency.

Andrew is a principal planner with over 11 years of experience in land use, infrastructure and social and environmental planning. He has worked with a range of government agencies and local councils, as well as international organisations including the Asian Development Bank and World Bank.

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His background spans education, state highways, social housing and plan changes, with a strong focus on planning in the Pacific. Andrew has lived and worked in the region, including time spent in Tuvalu as a child.

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He holds a master’s degree in Resource and Environmental Planning and is based in the Bay of Plenty. Outside of work, he runs a leading New Zealand surf report and speaks conversational Spanish.

Andy is a structural engineer with seven years of experience working across residential, commercial and education projects. His background includes structural design for school developments, residential buildings and mixed‑use commercial projects.

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Based in Auckland, Andy supports projects from concept through to detailed design, working closely with project teams to deliver efficient, buildable structural solutions. Fluent in Mandarin, he brings a collaborative approach and strong technical foundation to Chester’s structural team.

Claire brings over 30 years of experience in business administration and operational support, and is a central part of the Chester team.

As Business Support Team Lead, she helps keep things running smoothly across multiple offices, systems and teams.

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Based in Wellington and working remotely, Claire regularly spends time in the Auckland office to stay connected with the wider team. Known for her reliability, sharp organisation and calm presence, she provides the kind of behind-the-scenes support that helps everyone else do their best work.

Corné is the supportive, organised presence behind many of Chester’s projects. With five years in the industry and a strong background in retail leadership, she brings both structure and heart to the team.

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Originally from Cape Town, Corné spent nearly a decade in retail management, including a national role overseeing visual merchandising and staff training across 23 stores.

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Her attention to detail, clear communication and instinct for what’s needed make her an essential part of the project team.

David is a senior surveyor with over a decade of experience in cadastral, engineering and construction surveying. He has delivered survey services for large-scale residential developments across Auckland, supporting land development, civil works and legal boundary definition.

Originally from South Korea, David is fluent in Korean and brings a methodical, detail-focused approach to his work.

He is a Member of Survey and Spatial New Zealand and is based in Auckland.

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Edison is an experienced civil engineer with over 30 years in the industry, including 19 years in New Zealand, 12 years in the Philippines and 2 years in Fiji.

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He has worked on major infrastructure and transport projects across the rail, water and roading sectors, including roles with transport agencies, utilities and local government. Edison provides construction interface support and acts as Engineer’s Representative on complex subdivision and infrastructure projects.

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Based in Auckland, he brings a practical, site-focused approach to quality assurance and contract oversight. Edison is originally from the Philippines and speaks Filipino.

Fearghal is a chartered structural engineer and Regional Manager for Otago and Southland, with over 16 years of experience delivering complex projects across the lower South Island. His background spans high‑end residential homes, commercial buildings, hospitality developments, multi‑unit housing and complex retaining systems.

His portfolio includes major regional projects such as the Three Parks commercial precinct and Northlake community in Wānaka, community housing developments in Arrowtown, and the expansion of the Onsen Hot Pools in Queenstown. Based in Queenstown, Fearghal brings strong technical leadership, local insight and a practical, solutions‑focused approach to project delivery. Outside of work, he volunteers as a firefighter, serving the local community.

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Frank has over 45 years of experience in fire engineering, with a career spanning both the UK and New Zealand. He has worked on a wide range of projects, including high-rise commercial buildings, multi-unit apartments, retail developments and terraced housing.

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Before joining Chester, Frank held roles as a Fire Safety Inspector and Building Officer at Auckland City Council, giving him deep insight into the evolving local regulatory environment.

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He has been with Chester for over 13 years, supporting projects across the Auckland region with calm expertise and practical, code-aligned designs.

Known as a trusted sounding board within the team, Frank is valued for his technical precision, client focus, and long-standing relationships across the industry.

In 1985, Gary founded Chester Consultants from his garage with a simple goal: to work for himself and serve clients with quality and integrity. Over four decades later, Chester has grown into a multi-disciplinary consultancy operating across New Zealand and the Pacific.

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Gary is a chartered engineer with expertise in structural and fire engineering, holding both BE and Dip Eng (Fire), and is recognised by Engineering New Zealand and the Fijian Institute of Engineers as a Chartered Professional Engineer and Chartered Member.

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His vision and leadership continue to shape the firm’s collaborative culture, ensuring it remains client-focused and future-ready.

With over 35 years of experience, Gaye plays a steady and reliable role in supporting the Chester Fiji team from Auckland.

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She manages financial administration with quiet efficiency and ensures the day-to-day accounting runs smoothly.

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Her attention to detail and consistent support help keep operations running well across borders.

Glenn is a licensed cadastral surveyor with 40 years of experience across land acquisition, subdivision and construction surveying.

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He has worked on a wide range of projects including large-scale residential developments, multi-lot high density subdivisions, construction setout and legalisation of land acquisitions through the Public Works Act.

Hamish is a highly experienced planner with over 25 years in the industry. He has worked across multi-unit residential developments, large-scale commercial upgrades, and major transport infrastructure.

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He lists some of his most rewarding work as  leading planning input for the upgrade of a key national rail line, including resource consents, environmental monitoring and stakeholder consultation. Hamish brings a calm, solutions-focused approach to navigating complex planning challenges.

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While he's been in Auckland since 2001 he remains a Crusaders fan.

Isaac is a civil engineer with eight years of experience across land development, transport infrastructure and urban projects. His work includes rail and busway infrastructure, town centre developments, schools and high‑end residential projects.

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He has contributed to major developments such as large‑scale residential and mixed‑use projects in Drury, as well as stormwater construction monitoring and compliance on Auckland’s Eastern Busway.

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Originally from China and fluent in Mandarin, Isaac brings strong technical capability and attention to detail to every stage of project delivery. He is based in Auckland.

Jack has 14 years of experience (8 years in NZ) in civil engineering, covering land development, flood analysis, road upgrades and public infrastructure.

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He recently led the design and delivery of a multi-lot government development from resource consent through to 224c signoff, all within a challenging 12-month timeframe.

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Originally from Beijing and fluent in Mandarin, Jack has also worked in cities including Mexico City, Kingston (Jamaica), Guangzhou and Auckland. Now based in the Bay of Islands with his wife and child, he enjoys the quiet life, especially when the fish are biting.

Janice is a dependable and capable presence in the Chester team, supporting day-to-day operations with care and precision.

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She joined in 2024 after nearly 15 years within a large geotechnical team, bringing with her a deep understanding of the industry and a talent for keeping things running smoothly.

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Originally from Edinburgh, Janice is learning French with her partner in preparation for their shared dream of retiring in France one day.

Jenner is a chartered civil engineer with 16 years of experience designing and leading land development projects across residential, commercial, mixed use, institutional and retirement sectors.

He brings deep technical expertise and a strong delivery focus, working closely with clients, consultants and councils to guide projects from concept through to construction. As Civil Technical Manager and Team Leader, Jenner supports quality design outcomes and technical development across the wider team.

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He is based in Auckland and holds professional registration through Engineering New Zealand.

John is a senior engineer with over 40 years of experience in civil and structural design, construction monitoring, and multi-unit housing developments.

He began his career in the domestic construction industry, gaining hands-on knowledge that continues to shape his practical, buildable design approach. His portfolio includes large-scale housing developments and complex structural investigations.

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Based in Auckland, John is valued for his depth of experience, problem-solving ability and steady presence on projects.

Jonathan is a chartered structural engineer with 18 years of experience across commercial, light industrial, residential and heritage projects.

He also works in temporary works design and civil infrastructure, often leading multi-disciplinary teams through complex delivery phases. As Structural Team Leader, Jonathan is the primary client contact on key projects and brings a clear, pragmatic approach to design and supervision.

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Based on the North Shore, he supports structural outcomes across a broad range of project types with technical depth and a focus on buildability.

Jono is a Group Manager and senior project manager, client representative and advisor with 15 years of experience with complex projects across high-end private residential, luxury resort, commercial and infrastructure sectors throughout Aotearoa and the Pacific. He leads multidisciplinary teams through design and delivery, while also operating on the client-side roles protecting owners and investors when project risk, commercial outcomes and delivery strategy intersect.

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Beginning his career as a structural engineer, Jono developed a strong technical foundation that underpins his project management and client representation work. He is regularly engaged by clients to represent their interests across consultants, contractors and stakeholders, providing clear leadership and informed advice through consenting, procurement and construction phases.

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A key career highlight was his involvement in a $300 million island development in Fiji, where he held a client‑side interface role coordinating design and construction teams to deliver more than 70 villas, marina infrastructure and a five‑star resort facility. This experience shaped his approach to managing large‑scale, high‑risk developments in complex and remote environments.

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A shareholder and senior leader within Chester, Jono oversees the structural, fire and project management disciplines and plays an active role in the firm’s Pacific operations. Of Te Whanau-a-Apanui decent, based in Denarau and actively engaged in the New Zealand market, he works across both regions to support confident delivery, trusted client relationships and long‑term project outcomes.

Krishneel is a structural engineer with seven years of experience delivering residential, education, resort and light commercial projects. His background includes structural design and documentation for a broad range of building types, with a focus on practical, compliant solutions.

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Originally from Fiji and now based in Auckland, Krishneel is fluent in Hindi and English and brings regional insight and a collaborative working style to Chester’s structural team. He supports projects from concept through to construction with a strong emphasis on buildability and clear communication.

Leighton is a senior fire engineer with over 14 years of experience across commercial, healthcare, residential, industrial and resort developments.

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He specialises in fire safety design, CFD analysis, passive fire surveys, evacuation planning and preparing detailed fire reports to support building consent approvals.

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Leighton has worked on projects across the UK, New Zealand and the Pacific. Originally from Weymouth, England, he is now based in the Bay of Plenty.

Lucy is a Project Manager with over 12 years of industry experience and a background in structural and fire engineering. She works with a wide range of clients, from private residential to council & government organisations, managing projects from early design through to completion.

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With strong communication skills and a practical mindset, Lucy builds strong working relationships and focuses on delivering outcomes that reflect each client’s goals. Her long-standing love for architecture and design continues to shape her approach, which is focused on thoughtful, buildable design and smooth delivery.

Mathew is a structural drafter with six years of experience supporting residential, warehouse and walkway projects.

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He works closely with engineers to produce clear, accurate documentation that supports efficient construction and compliance.

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Based in Auckland, Mathew brings technical precision and a collaborative approach to every project.

Megan is a senior planner with over 14 years of experience delivering planning and consenting outcomes across land development and infrastructure projects.

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Her expertise includes resource consent applications, stakeholder and iwi consultation, and infrastructure upgrades, with experience across both public and private sector projects. She has worked on a wide range of developments including Kāinga Ora housing projects, road widening works, and three waters upgrades.

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Earlier in her career, Megan led the nationwide rebrand of Shell New Zealand to Z Energy, coordinating consenting requirements across multiple councils. After recently returning to the workforce following extended parental leave, Megan brings renewed perspective and depth of experience to her planning practice.

Michelle is an experienced HR professional with over 20 years in human resource management, consulting and advisory roles across a wide range of industries. She brings strong capability in employment relations, organisational change and workplace policy development.

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Michelle has a comprehensive understanding of employment legislation and best practice HR processes, and works closely with leaders to coach and support effective people management. She also has extensive experience in employee documentation, payroll compliance and change implementation.

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Based in Auckland, Michelle brings her depth of experience to the team, supporting Chester with a proactive, solutions focussed approach to HR.

Nat leads Chester’s Northland civil team and brings 14 years of experience across land development, infrastructure, commercial and education projects.

His portfolio includes subdivisions, papakāinga housing, resorts, public infrastructure and regulatory engineering. Nat is also experienced in plan changes and development strategy, working closely with councils, iwi and private clients.

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Based in Northland, he brings practical leadership and a deep understanding of regional development challenges and opportunities.

Nilo is a structural engineer with 7 years of experience, in structural design, assessment, and construction monitoring of projects in New Zealand and Fiji.

Nilo’s experience includes designing and construction monitoring of up to 3-storey residential townhouses, retaining walls and industrial structural projects such as water treatment plants throughout New Zealand.

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Nilo has also been involved in design of resorts and airport structural projects in Fiji.

Paul is a Director at Chester and a senior structural engineer with over three decades of experience in both New Zealand and the United Kingdom. He has delivered a wide range of projects across sectors including commercial buildings, infrastructure and large-scale land development.

His expertise spans structural design, project and design management, tendering and contract administration. Paul’s career includes time in both consultancy and the public sector, including post-earthquake recovery work in Christchurch.

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He brings a practical, solutions-focused approach to every project, backed by deep technical knowledge and strong leadership.

Tony is a senior surveyor with over 17 years of experience across cadastral, engineering and ocean surveying, including the past seven years specialising in New Zealand land transfer surveys.

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He plays a key role in delivering large-scale residential and infrastructure projects, with particular strengths in limited title resolution, monitoring, and complex urban subdivision.

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Originally from China and fluent in Mandarin, Tony brings a precise, methodical approach to every project he contributes to.

Pom is a structural engineer with over 3 years experience across residential housing, wastewater treatment facilities, and industrial structures.

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Her work covers a diverse range of projects including the design of portal frame structures, land slip remedial solutions including tied-back palisade retaining walls and construction monitoring.

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With a sharp technical focus and growing expertise, Pom supports a range of structural projects from Chester’s Auckland office.

Royce is a Chartered Fire Engineer with 10 years of experience across various sectors including resorts, heritage, commercial, residential and public infrastructure.

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He has led the fire safety design for large-scale developments including landmark resorts and Fiji’s first Green Star-rated commercial tower. With a background in structural engineering and a master’s degree in fire engineering, Royce brings a practical, buildable approach to his designs.

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Fluent in Cantonese and based in Auckland, he focuses on providing a personable experience to clients, whilst incorporating fire strategies into the real world.

Ryan is a senior civil engineer and team leader with over 20 years of experience delivering both large and small-scale land development and infrastructure projects.

His background includes subdivisions, retirement villages, residential estates, food processing facilities and wastewater treatment plants. He has worked in both New Zealand and the UK, including the transformation of a greenfield/woodland area into fully serviced village with school, transport links and community facilities.

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Ryan brings practical experience, strong design leadership and a collaborative mindset to every stage of project delivery.

Sam is a senior civil engineer with over a decade of experience delivering roading, land development and pedestrian improvement projects.

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Known for her practical mindset and collaborative approach, she works closely with clients and contractors to ensure designs are efficient, buildable and community-focused.

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Based in Auckland, Sam brings deep technical knowledge and a steady hand to complex urban infrastructure challenges.

Sean is a chartered structural engineer with 12 years of experience across commercial, industrial and residential projects. His work spans low to medium-rise buildings, peer reviews, seismic assessments and strengthening.

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Before joining Chester, he spent eight years at a structural design consultancy and has contributed to a range of notable projects including commercial showrooms, apartment buildings and industrial facilities. Sean also has hands-on experience in property development and is currently involved in a multi-stage project on Auckland’s North Shore.

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Originally from Japan, he speaks Japanese and enjoys spending time with his wife, two kids and the family dog, making the most of the sun and surf.

Siân is a project manager who combines clear communication and structure with an upbeat, can-do energy that lifts every team she works with.

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She has experience across large subdivisions, land development and roading, with recent work including lifestyle villages, wastewater upgrades and infrastructure in growing coastal regions. Before joining Chester, she worked in the government sector on a major transport infrastructure project.

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Originally from the United Kingdom, she is now based in Auckland and has recently started learning Samoan.

Sivatharsan is a civil engineer with over nine years of experience delivering infrastructure projects across New Zealand and overseas.

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He has a strong background in construction and infrastructure management, complemented by over a year of dedicated civil design experience.

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Based in Chester’s Northland office, he supports a wide range of civil design projects throughout the region.

Steven is a Director and Principal Civil Engineer at Chester Consultants with over 18 years of experience delivering complex civil infrastructure and land development projects across New Zealand and the Pacific.

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He has been with Chester since 2008 and a Director since 2014, playing a key role in the firm’s growth and multi‑disciplinary leadership.

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Steven provides senior technical and strategic advisory services to clients, supporting projects through feasibility, consenting, delivery strategy and risk management. He is highly experienced as an expert witness on complex and often contentious consent processes, including notified consents, private plan changes, Environment Court proceedings and Boards of Inquiry.

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Known for his ability to operate at the interface between clients, technical teams, contractors and authorities, Steven brings clear, commercially grounded advice to high‑risk and high‑profile projects. He combines deep technical expertise with strong judgement and outcome‑focused leadership.

Stu is a survey manager with 20 years of experience across land development, cadastral surveying, laser scanning, UAV work, construction setout and monitoring.

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He has worked across a wide range of markets and industries in both New Zealand and Australia, from high-density residential developments to complex infrastructure projects. His portfolio includes major local subdivisions as well as international experience on one of the world’s largest gas plants in Western Australia.

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Originally from Queenstown, Stu brings a sharp technical eye and a practical, solutions-focused approach to every project.

Suneet is a structural engineer based in Fiji with nine years of experience, including more than seven with Chester.

His work spans high-end residential villas, resort developments, and aviation and infrastructure projects. He has played a key role in both design and construction monitoring, including support on major commercial and training facilities.

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Known for his practical support and calm problem-solving, Suneet contributes to Chester’s Pacific projects with a focus on quality and coordination. He is originally from Tavua and speaks Fiji Hindi.

Vilma is a highly experienced civil drafter with over 30 years in mapping and engineering across Argentina, South Africa and New Zealand.

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With a diploma in cartography and a background in topographical mapping, she brings deep technical skill to civil and survey drafting, including scheme plans, as-built documentation and 3D modelling. Vilma’s career spans sectors from land development to mining, and she is known for her precision, versatility and commitment to supporting project teams.

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Originally from Buenos Aires, she now calls Auckland home. Outside of work, Vilma enjoys art and is currently exploring new creative skills through weekly classes.